Choke valve with internal sleeve for erosion protection

ABSTRACT

An assembly and method for a choke valve body having a choke valve to control flow of fluids. A sleeve positioned in and attached to the choke valve body to flow the fluids through an inner sleeve region internal to the sleeve instead of an outer sleeve region external to the sleeve.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/995,293, filed on Jun. 1, 2018, the entirecontents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to controlling fluid flow through flow lines,for example, using valves.

BACKGROUND

Flow lines carry fluids over long distances. The fluids can includemultiple phases including liquids, gases and suspended solids. Forexample, the fluids can include hydrocarbons extracted from ahydrocarbon reservoir in a subterranean zone via a wellbore. In someinstances, the hydrocarbons can include solid particulates, for example,sand or other debris, that flowed from the subterranean zone via thewellbore to the surface together with the hydrocarbons.

Flow lines implement valves to control the flow of fluid. In instancesin which the flowing fluids include solid particulates, the particulatescan erode internal regions of the valves over time. Such erosions, leftuntreated, can damage, for example, rupture, the flow lines causingleaks.

SUMMARY

This specification describes technologies relating to choke valves withinternal sleeves for erosion protection.

An aspect relates to a choke valve assembly including an inlet bodyconfigured to receive fluids flowed through an upstream flow line, andan outlet body fluidically coupled to the inlet body, the outlet bodyconfigured to discharge fluids received at the inlet body out of thechoke valve assembly into a downstream flow line. The assembly includesa choke valve body positioned between and attached to each of the inletbody and the outlet body, the choke valve body having a choke valveconfigured to be opened or closed to control flow of the fluids from theinlet body to the outlet body. In addition, the assembly includes asleeve positioned in and attached to an inner region defined by thechoke valve body, the sleeve defining an inner sleeve region internal tothe sleeve and an outer sleeve region external to the sleeve andinternal to the inner region of the choke valve body. The sleeve isconfigured to flow the fluids from the inlet body through the innersleeve region instead of the outer sleeve region.

Another aspect relates to a method including receiving, from an upstreamflow line, fluids at an inlet body of a choke valve assembly, the inletbody fluidically coupled to an outlet body of the choke valve assembly,the outlet body configured to flow the fluids to a downstream flow line.Further, the method includes forming, by a sleeve positioned in andattached to a choke valve body positioned between the inlet body and theoutlet body, an inner region internal to the sleeve and an outer regionexternal to the sleeve and internal to the choke valve body, the chokevalve body comprising a choke valve configured to be open or closed tocontrol flow of the fluids from the inlet body to the outlet body. Themethod also includes flowing, by the sleeve and in response to the chokevalve being open, the fluids received at the inlet body through theinner region instead of through the outer region and to the outlet body.

Yet another aspect relates to a hydrocarbon flow line assembly having anupstream flow line configured to flow well fluids comprisinghydrocarbons extracted from a hydrocarbon reservoir in a subterraneanzone, and a choke valve assembly downstream of the upstream flow line,the choke valve assembly fluidically coupled to an outlet of theupstream flow line to receive the well fluids from the upstream flowline. The choke valve assembly includes a sleeve positioned in andattached to an inner region of the choke valve assembly, the sleevedefining an inner sleeve region internal to the sleeve and an outersleeve region external to the sleeve and internal to the inner region ofthe choke valve assembly. The sleeve is configured to flow the fluidsfrom the inlet body through the inner sleeve region instead of the outersleeve region. The hydrocarbon flow assembly also includes a downstreamflow line downstream of the choke valve assembly and configured toreceive the well fluids from an outlet of the choke valve assembly.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matterdescribed in this specification are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, andadvantages of the subject matter will become apparent from thedescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of example flow lines fluidically coupledby a valve assembly.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example choke valve assembly in aclosed state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example choke valve assembly in anopen state.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a process of controlling fluidflow through flow lines.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Choke valve assemblies are used to control flow of fluids through flowlines. The fluids can include hydrocarbons extracted from a hydrocarbonreservoir. Such fluids can include liquid, gas and solid particulates,for example, sand particles or other solid particulates from thehydrocarbon reservoir. The outlet portions of the choke valve assembliesexperience high fluid velocities due to the volumetric flow rates of thefluids flowed through the flow lines. The outlet portions experiencepin-hole leaks resulting from erosion caused by the solid particles. Inthe case of hydrocarbon carrying flow lines, such erosion can result inoil spills which can be catastrophic.

This disclosure describes a modified choke valve assembly that includesan internal sleeve within the choke valve assembly. As described later,the internal sleeve defines an inner sleeve region through which theflow line fluid is flowed and an outer sleeve region that is external tothe sleeve and internal to the choke valve assembly. The outer sleeveregion defines a void space in which the fluidic pressure is sensed. Ifthe fluidic pressure in the outer sleeve region fails to satisfy afluidic pressure threshold (for example, is greater than the fluidicpressure threshold), that indicates that the internal sleeve has beeneroded. In response, flow through the flow lines can be stopped and theinternal sleeve of the choke valve assembly can be replaced withoutneeding to replace the entire choke valve assembly. Alternatively or inaddition, in response to detecting that the internal sleeve has eroded,an emergency shutdown (ESD) system can be activated to shut off flowthrough the flow lines to prevent any spillage while the sleeve is beingreplaced.

In some implementations, the sleeve is attached in or near an outletbody of the choke valve assembly. Because any erosion is absorbed by thesleeve, the choke valve body is protected, thereby extending its life.By sensing the fluidic pressure in the void space defined by the outersleeve region, a failure (such as rupture) of the sleeve due to erosionby solid particulates can be detected before the choke valve assemblyitself fails. In this manner, leaks or spills can be prevented and theassociated damage avoided. Therefore, asset integrity and reliabilitymay be enhanced, decreasing interruption of oil/gas production and thusincreasing production, and also reducing undesired release of oil/gas tothe environment, and so on.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of example flow lines fluidically coupledby a valve assembly. A choke valve assembly 100 controls flow of thefluids through the flow lines, in particular, an upstream flow line 102upstream of the choke valve assembly 100 and a downstream flow line 104downstream of the choke valve assembly 100. In some implementations, theflow lines can carry hydrocarbons (for example, oil, gas, orcombinations of them) extracted from a hydrocarbon reservoir in asubterranean zone via a wellbore. The fluids in the flow lines can carrysolid particulates, for example, sand or well debris that flowed intothe flow lines from the hydrocarbon reservoir via the well.

The choke valve assembly 100 is described in the context of hydrocarbonsreceived from a wellbore or carried through a flow line. The choke valveassembly 100 can be implemented in any flow line through which fluidsthat carry solid particulates. Specifically, the solid particulates, forexample, sand, rock, or other solid particulates, can be of a size andtoughness that can erode inner regions of the choke valve assembly whenflowed through the choke valve assembly. Also, the choke valve assembly100 is described in the context of an upstream flow line 102 that issubstantially perpendicular to a downstream flow line 102 such that thefluid flow path turns by substantially ninety degrees. As used in thisdisclosure, the term “substantially” represents a variance from anumerical value by up to and including around 5%. For example, by“substantially perpendicular,” it is meant that an angle between theupstream flow line 102 and the downstream flow line 104 can rangebetween 85 degrees and 95 degrees. In alternative implementations, thechoke valve assembly 100 can be implemented when the upstream flow line102 and the downstream flow line 104 are at different angles from thatshown in FIG. 1. For example, the upstream flow line 102 and thedownstream flow line 104 can be co-axial with the choke valve assembly100 positioned in between. Indeed, the choke valve assembly 100 mayaccommodate or incorporate various arrangements of the flow lines 102and 104. Again, in some examples, the angle for the choke valve betweenthe upstream line 102 and downstream line 104 is about 90 degrees.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example choke valve assembly 100 ina closed state. The choke valve assembly 100 includes an inlet body 202that can receive fluids flowed through an upstream flow line, forexample, the upstream flow line 102 (FIG. 1). The inlet body 202 caninclude a hollow tubular member that can be fluidically interfaced withand seal to an outlet of the upstream flow line 102, for example, via acoupling or other interface structure. The choke valve assembly 100includes an outlet body 204 fluidically coupled to the inlet body 202.The outlet body 204 can discharge fluids received at the inlet body 202out of the choke valve assembly 100 into a downstream flow line, forexample, the downstream flow line 104. Like the inlet body 202, theoutlet body 204 can include a hollow tubular member that can befluidically interfaced with and seal to an inlet of the downstream flowline 104, for example, via a coupling or other interface structure. Insome implementations, a longitudinal axis 224 of the inlet body 202 canbe substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 226 of the outletbody 204 such that the fluids entering the choke valve assembly 100 viathe inlet body 202 are turned by substantially ninety degrees in theoutlet body 204.

A choke valve body 206 is positioned between and attached to each of theinlet body 202 and the outlet body 204. The choke valve body 206includes a choke valve 208 that can be opened or closed to control flowof the fluids from the inlet body 202 to the outlet body 204. In FIG. 2,the choke valve 208 is shown in a closed state. That is, the choke valvestem 211, which can be moved between open and closed states, forexample, by rotating the hand wheel 209, seals the outlet body 204 fromthe inlet body 202, thereby preventing fluid flow from the inlet body202 to the outlet body 204.

The choke valve body 206 defines an inner region 212 within the chokevalve assembly 100. Fluids from the upstream flow line 102 can flowthrough portions of the inner region 212 to the downstream flow line104. The choke valve assembly 100 includes a sleeve 210 positioned inand attached to the inner region 212. The sleeve 210 defines an innersleeve region 214 internal to the sleeve 210 and an outer sleeve region216 external to the sleeve 210 and internal to the inner region 212 ofthe choke valve body 206. The sleeve 210 can flow the fluids from theinlet body 202 through the inner sleeve region 214 instead of the outersleeve region 216. In other words, the sleeve 210 is attached to theinner region 212 of the choke valve body 206 such that, when the chokevalve assembly 100 is in an open state and is operating as intended,fluids from the inlet body 202 can only flow through the inner sleeveregion 214, but not through the outer sleeve region 216.

In some implementations, the inner sleeve 210 is positioned in andattached to a portion of the choke valve body 206 that is attached tothe outlet body 204. A portion of the inner sleeve 210 extends into theoutlet body 204, for example, into the outlet trim of the choke valveassembly 100. By this arrangement, fluids can flow from the upstreamflow line 102 into the choke valve body 206. Fluids exiting the chokevalve body 206 are constrained to flow through the inner sleeve region214, but not the outer sleeve region 216, toward the downstream flowline 104.

In certain implementations, the sleeve may be placed in the inlet triminstead of the outlet trim. In other implementations, two sleevesincludes one sleeve at the inlet trim and the other sleeve at the outlettrim, respectively. In some instances, the pressure in the void area ofthe inlet trim can be sensed similarly to pressure sensing in the voidarea of the outlet trim. Lastly, while the inlet trim may beimplemented, disposing the trim at the choke outlet portion may bebeneficial because the trim would be generally exposed to higher fluidvelocity at the outlet portion than at the inlet portion.

The sleeve 210 is fixedly and sealingly attached to the inner region 212defined by the choke valve body 206 to prevent the fluids from flowingthrough the outer sleeve region 216. To do so, the choke valve assembly100 includes a ring-seal 218 that affixes the sleeve to the inner region212 and seals the outer sleeve region 216 from the rest of the innerregion 212. Various structural features, locks, seals, etc. may attachthe sleeve to the valve outlet trim and, in examples, some of thesefeatures if employed may be attached to and removable from the valvebody. The mechanisms may create a seal that prevents fluid from flowinginto the void space. In one example, a seal may be at the upstream endof the inlet or at other locations.

In some implementations, the sleeve 210 can be a tubular member that isconcentric with the outer body 204. The sleeve 210 can be made of amaterial that can withstand (physically and chemically) the fluidsflowed through the choke valve assembly 100. For example, the sleeve 210can be made of tungsten carbide or high super duplex stainless steelmaterial.

As described earlier, the choke valve assembly 100 is shown in a closedstate in FIG. 2. That is, the hand wheel 209 has been turned to lowerthe valve stem 211 onto an end of the sleeve 210. The ring-seal 218prevents fluids received through the inner body 202 from flowing to theouter body 204.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example choke valve assembly, forexample, the choke valve assembly 100, in an open state. In the openstate, the hand wheel 209 has been turned to raise the valve stem 211away from the end of the sleeve 210. Fluids from the inner body 202 canflow through the choke valve body 206 towards the outer body 204.However, the ring-seal 218 forces the fluids to flow through the innersleeve region 214 and seals the outer sleeve region 216 to the fluidflow. Any erosion or other damage that is caused by solid particulatesor other components of the fluids is experienced by the inner surface ofthe sleeve 214 rather than the inner surface of the choke valve body 206in the outer sleeve region 216. In this manner, the choke valve body 206is protected even if the sleeve 210 is ruptured due to the erosion ordamage.

Over time, as fluids flow through the choke valve assembly 100, thesleeve 210 is likely to be ruptured and damaged as explained above. Todetermine if the sleeve 210 has ruptured or has been damaged, a pressuresensor 222 can be connected to the void space defined by the outersleeve region 216. For example, tubing 223 made from a fluidic pressureresistant material (such as stainless steel) can connect the void spacedefined by the outer sleeve region 216 to the pressure sensor 222. Thepressure sensor 222 can sense a fluidic pressure in the void space, and,generate and transmit a signal representing the sensed fluidic pressure.

An ESD system 220 can be operatively coupled to the outer sleeve region216 and to the pressure sensor 222. The ESD system 220 can beimplemented as a computer-readable medium storing computer instructionsexecutable by one or more computer processors to perform operationsincluding shutting down flow through either the upstream flow line 102or the downstream flow line 104 or both. Alternatively, the ESD system220 can be implemented as processing circuitry, firmware, hardware,software or combinations of them to perform the operations. If thefluidic pressure in the void space defined by the outer sleeve region216 fails to satisfy a fluidic pressure threshold, that is an indicationthat the sleeve 210 has failed. Upon such an occurrence, the ESD system220 can shut down the flow through the upstream flow line 102 or thedownstream flow line 104 or both to prevent leakage of the fluids out ofthe flow lines.

In some implementations, the ESD system 220 stores a fluidic pressurethreshold, for example, 100 pounds per square inch (PSI). The ESD system220 includes or is operatively coupled to a valve (for example, asolenoid valve or other valve). In operation, the ESD system 220receives fluidic pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 222, forexample, continuously, periodically (for instance, at a frequency of 1pressure signal per second or other frequency) or upon the pressuresensor 222 sensing a pressure value greater than the fluidic pressurethreshold. The ESD system 220 compares the fluidic pressure valuerepresented by the pressure signal from the pressure sensor 222 to thestored fluidic pressure threshold. Upon determining that the sensedpressure fails to satisfy the fluidic pressure threshold (for example,is greater than the fluidic pressure threshold), the ESD system 220activates the valve, such as a safety valve, to close the upstream flowline 102 (or the downstream flow line 104, or both) to which the ESDsystem 220 is fluidically coupled.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a process 400 of controllingfluid flow through flow lines. The process 400 can be implemented, inpart, by a choke valve assembly such as the choke valve assembly 100and, in part, by a ESD system such as the ESD system 220. At 402, fluidis received at a choke valve assembly inlet body. For example, fluidsfrom an upstream flow line are received at the inlet body 202 of thechoke valve assembly 100. At 404, fluidic pressure is sensed in a voidspace defined by a sleeve in the choke valve assembly. For example, thesleeve 210 positioned in and attached to the choke valve body 206positioned between the inlet body 202 and the outlet body 204 forms avoid space defined by the outer region 216 external to the sleeve 210and internal to the choke valve body 206. At 406, a determination ismade to check if a fluidic pressure threshold is satisfied. For example,the ESD system 220 checks if the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor222 in the void space satisfies the fluidic pressure threshold stored bythe ESD system 220. If the fluidic pressure is satisfied (decisionbranch “YES”), then the fluidic pressure is continued to be sensed byimplementing step 404. If the fluidic pressure is not satisfied(decision branch “NO”), then, at 408, emergency shutdown of the flowline is initiated. For example, the ESD system 220 triggers a valve toshut down flow through the flow line to which the ESD system 220 isoperatively coupled, which can be the upstream flow line 102 or thedownstream flow line 104 or both.

In sum, some implementations of the subject matter described here aredirected to a hydrocarbon flow line assembly. The assembly includes anupstream flow line, for example, the upstream flow line 102, to flowwell fluids that include hydrocarbons extracted from a hydrocarbonreservoir in a subterranean zone. The assembly includes a choke valveassembly, for example, the choke valve assembly 100, downstream of theupstream flow line. The choke valve assembly is fluidically coupled toan outlet of the upstream flow line to receive the well fluids from theupstream flow line. The choke valve assembly includes a sleevepositioned in and attached to an inner region of the choke valveassembly. The sleeve defines an inner sleeve region internal to thesleeve and an outer sleeve region external to the sleeve and internal tothe inner region of the choke valve assembly. The sleeve can flow thefluids from the inlet body through the inner sleeve region instead ofthe outer sleeve region. The assembly includes a downstream flow line,for example, the downstream flow line 104, downstream of the choke valveassembly that can receive the well fluids from an outlet of the chokevalve assembly.

Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have beendescribed. Other implementations are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A choke valve assembly comprising: an inlet body to receive fluidfrom an upstream flow line; an outlet body to discharge the fluid into adownstream flow line; a choke valve body between the inlet body and theoutlet body, the choke valve body comprising a choke valve to controlflow of the fluid from the inlet body to the outlet body; and a sleevein an inner region defined by the choke valve body, the sleeve definingan inner sleeve region in the inner region internal to the sleeve and anouter sleeve region in the inner region external to the sleeve, whereinthe outer sleeve region is concentric with the inner sleeve region, andwherein the sleeve to flow the fluid from the inlet body through theinner sleeve region instead of the outer sleeve region.
 2. The chokevalve assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve region beingconcentric with the inner sleeve region comprises the outer sleeveregion and the inner sleeve region sharing a central axis.
 3. The chokevalve assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a cylindricalsleeve, and wherein the outer sleeve region comprises an annularcylindrical volume defined by the cylindrical sleeve and a cylindricalinner surface of the choke valve body.
 4. The choke valve assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the outer sleeve region comprises an annularright-cylindrical volume defined by the choke valve body and the sleeve.5. The choke valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is coupled tothe choke valve body via a seal.
 6. The choke valve assembly of claim 1,wherein a portion of the sleeve extends into a region defined by theoutlet body.
 7. The choke valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the outersleeve region is a void space, and wherein the inner sleeve region is aflow path for the fluid.
 8. The choke valve assembly of claim 7,comprising an emergency shutdown system to shutdown flow of the fluidthrough the choke valve assembly in response to pressure in the outersleeve region failing to satisfy a threshold.
 9. The choke valveassembly of claim 8, comprising a pressure sensor to sense the pressurein the outer sleeve region and transmit a signal representative of thepressure to the emergency shutdown system.
 10. The choke valve assemblyof claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the inlet body issubstantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outlet body.11. A method of operating a choke valve assembly, comprising: receivingfluid at an inlet body of the choke valve assembly from an upstream flowline; flowing the fluid from the inlet body through a choke valve bodyof the choke valve assembly to an outlet body of the choke valveassembly in response to a choke valve of the choke valve body beingopen, wherein a sleeve in the choke valve body defines an inner regioninternal to the sleeve and an outer region external to the sleeve, theouter region comprising an annular cylinder defined by the choke valvebody and the sleeve, and wherein flowing comprises flowing, by thesleeve, the fluid through the inner region instead of through the outerregion; and discharging the fluid from the outlet body to a downstreamflow line.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the annular cylindercomprises an annular right cylinder, wherein the sleeve seals the outerregion to fluid flow, and wherein the choke valve when closed blocksfluid flow through the choke valve body.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein the sleeve comprises a cylindrical sleeve, wherein the annularcylinder comprises an annular cylindrical space defined by thecylindrical sleeve and a cylindrical inner surface of the choke valvebody.
 14. The method of claim 11, comprising sensing pressure in theouter region and transmitting a signal representing the pressure assensed to an emergency shutdown system.
 15. The method of claim 14,shutting down, via the emergency shutdown system, flow of the fluidthrough the upstream flow line or the downstream flow line, or both, inresponse to the pressure failing to satisfy a threshold.
 16. Ahydrocarbon flow line assembly comprising: an upstream flow line to flowwell fluids comprising hydrocarbons extracted from a hydrocarbonreservoir in a subterranean zone; a choke valve assembly fluidicallycoupled to an outlet of the upstream flow line to receive the wellfluids from the upstream flow line, the choke valve assembly comprisinga sleeve positioned in an inner region of the choke valve assembly, thesleeve defining an inner sleeve region in the inner region internal tothe sleeve and an outer sleeve region in the inner region external tothe sleeve, the outer sleeve region sharing a central axis with theinner sleeve region, wherein the sleeve to flow the fluids through theinner sleeve region instead of the outer sleeve region; and a downstreamflow line downstream of the choke valve assembly to receive the wellfluids from an outlet of the choke valve assembly.
 17. The assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the choke valve assembly comprises: an inlet body toreceive the well fluids from the outlet of the upstream flow line; anoutlet body to receive the well fluids from the inlet body through achoke valve body; and the choke valve body comprising a choke valve tocontrol flow of the well fluids from the inlet body to the outlet body,wherein the choke valve body defines the inner region in which thesleeve is positioned.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the sleevecomprises a cylindrical sleeve, and wherein the outer sleeve regioncomprises an annular cylindrical volume defined by the cylindricalsleeve and a cylindrical inner surface of the choke valve body
 19. Theassembly of claim 16, wherein the outer sleeve region comprises anannular right-cylindrical volume defined by sleeve and a choke valvebody of the choke valve assembly.
 20. The assembly of claim 16,comprising an emergency shutdown system to shutdown flow through theupstream flow line or the downstream flow line, or both, in response topressure in the outer sleeve region not satisfying a threshold.
 21. Theassembly of claim 16, wherein the choke valve assembly comprises a chokevalve body that changes a flow path for the well fluids through thechoke valve assembly by substantially ninety degrees.